A walking defect popularly known as limping is limping or lameness, which is a massive mobility limitation for those affected.
What is limping or limping?
In limping or claudication, there is a noticeable irregularity of gait. This can be more or less pronounced, depending on its extent. Limping prevents individuals from moving as quickly as they normally would. Limping results in various impairments known as shortening, painful or stiffening limp. Depending on the cause, limping is also divided into so-called intermittent, psychogenic, paralytic and hip limping. Further manifestations of limping can also be triggered by various other causes. In all variants of limping, the disorders can occur as so-called mixed forms.
Causes
Limping can be based on very different causes, both psychological and physical. The triggers for an irregular gait are usually based on the holding and supporting apparatus of the or the leg, and usually on a disturbed transmission of nerve impulses. In the case of limping, this can in turn be attributed to a disorder of the controlling nerve areas. A limp can be caused by two legs of unequal length, a displacement of the pelvis that occurs unilaterally, deformities (deviations from the normal structure) and discomfort of the foot, stiffness and muscle contractures, balance problems due to an acute or club foot, damage to the knee or hip joint, arthritic impairments and so-called neuromuscular system diseases. Other causes of a limp include damage to the muscles, paralysis, gait disturbances due to various bone diseases or amputations of the lower legs.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Limping or hobbling is first noticeable by the typical gait disturbances. The affected person can no longer put weight on one or both feet as before and therefore shifts the body weight – limping occurs. Limping can usually be recognized by the conspicuous gait. Whether and what accompanying symptoms occur depends on the cause of the limp. In general, limping is associated with pain. If the symptoms are based on an injury to the foot, swelling, bruising and pressure pain may be added. If gout or a rheumatic disease is the cause, symptoms occur throughout the body and stabbing pain occurs in other limbs as well. Under certain circumstances, limping is accompanied by a feeling of illness or general malaise. In the long term, limping can lead to poor posture and secondary symptoms such as joint wear, back pain or tension. As a result of the restricted mobility, mental discomfort can set in, which is often exacerbated by the conspicuous gait. If a bruise, overstretching or another comparatively harmless cause is responsible for the limp, the complaints usually subside quickly. As soon as the underlying condition has disappeared, it is possible to resume walking as before.
Diagnosis and course
In diagnosing limping, medical professionals rely on several well-established methods. In addition to a close examination of the gait pattern and a visual examination of the body’s functions in the musculoskeletal system, various neurological procedures are useful in determining the presence of a limp. Imaging procedures are often appropriate to accurately clarify the causes as part of the diagnosis of limping. If it is only a temporary limp due to a psychogenic or hysterical trigger, a psychiatrist is also consulted for the diagnosis. By looking at the gait pattern, it is already possible to identify the type of limp without technical aids. If this is not clearly possible, additional diagnostic methods are used to support the diagnosis. In addition, the reports of the affected persons are also important to clearly determine a limp.
Complications
Limping represents a very unhealthy physical condition and, in the long term, without treatment, can lead to significant limitations and discomfort in the patient’s life. This usually involves severe pain and swelling.Likewise, those affected suffer from restricted movement and can thus no longer actively participate in life. The patient’s resilience is also significantly reduced by the limp. In some cases, those affected are dependent on walking aids. As a rule, balance disorders occur. It is not uncommon for limping to put a lot of strain on certain joints and muscles and thus damage them. In the long term, this can result in irreversible damage that can lead to severe restrictions in movement. Treatment of these complaints does not usually lead to further complications. However, it always depends on the cause, so that a positive course of the disease cannot always be guaranteed. Under certain circumstances, the complaint cannot be completely cured. Not infrequently, limping also occurs due to a psychological disorder, in which case treatment by a psychologist is necessary. Life expectancy is not affected by limping. However, the limp itself can have a negative effect on the psyche of the affected person, leading to depression and other psychological upsets.
When should you see a doctor?
If the limp can be attributed to the formation of a blister on the foot, a visit to the doctor is usually not necessary. Normally, the blister heals within a few days and the affected person can then move around without any symptoms. A visit to the doctor is advisable as soon as further complaints develop. If blisters do not heal or the affected areas become inflamed, a doctor should be consulted. If self-treatment measures such as ointments, cooling compresses or creams do not have any effect, help should be sought. If the limp causes discomfort to the muscles, nerves or tendons, a doctor is needed. If there is unsteadiness of gait, poor posture of the body or pain, a doctor should be consulted. If the affected person suffers from back problems, discomfort of the hip, heavy legs or discoloration of the skin appearance, an examination should be initiated. Circulatory problems, a decreased level of performance or numbness in the legs are considered unusual and should be investigated. A physician should be consulted immediately to determine the causes. If it can be determined that the legs have a difference in length, a visit to the doctor is advised. In children, limping is often caused by growth spurts. If the complaints nevertheless persist for several weeks, a doctor should be consulted for a check-up.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment methods against limping are versatile and extremely advanced. On the one hand, therapies are limited to general and external applications. On the other hand, therapy methods that are internal and very specific treatments for limping are very effective. In most cases, where the limp is based on clear causes, combined therapies are used. In addition, surgical interventions can provide freedom from symptoms just as physiotherapeutic procedures can achieve this in the case of limping. If patients suffer from a shortening limp, which can be remedied by compensating for the difference between the lengths of the legs, orthopedic aids are an adequate option in addition to surgical interventions. In order to deal with limping based on psychological disorders, psychotherapeutic treatments as well as the specialist prescription of appropriate medications are useful in order to restore the psychological balance. Hip limp, as a common manifestation of limping, is treated by surgical intervention on the trochanter.
Outlook and prognosis
If the limp is triggered due to poor or incorrect footwear, relief can be obtained at any time by changing footwear. In these cases, these are not permanent changes in the skeletal system but are corrective measures that are necessary. It is advisable to consult an orthopedist in order to achieve permanent freedom from symptoms. In many affected persons, the size of the footwear is not correct or the heels of the shoes are not optimally adapted to the needs of the body. If the affected person has a bad posture of the hip, the back or the legs, therapeutic measures or a surgical intervention are often necessary to achieve an improvement of the complaints. Despite all efforts, a cure is not always achieved.This must be assessed individually and depends on various factors such as duration or age of the patient. If the malposition cannot be completely corrected, a lifelong impairment is to be expected. If joints or other stabilizing bones of the skeletal system are replaced, a good prognosis is possible with good rehabilitation and adherence to the treatment plan. If limping presents after an accident or fall, bone damage is often present. With good medical care, the damaged area usually heals completely within the next few weeks or months.
Prevention
Prevention of claudication can be achieved independently to some degree by strengthening the muscle and ligament system of the lower extremities. Congenital impairments or those caused by accidents, as well as health impairments acquired in the course of life that lead to limping, cannot be prevented. To prophylactically counteract damage to bones or joints, incorrect loading should be avoided. This prevents an associated limp.
Aftercare
The extent to which follow-up care is necessary depends on the cause of the limp. It may not even be necessary at all in some cases. This is the case when the problem is due to improper footwear. The choice of a different footwear already provides a remedy. If, on the other hand, there are physical malpositions, for example at the hips or on the back, treatment is indispensable. This does not always lead to the desired success, which can result in lifelong impairments. Aftercare can then only be of an accompanying nature. Physiotherapy is the most suitable aftercare measure. In exercise sessions, patients learn how to use their musculoskeletal system efficiently. Sometimes limping also puts a strain on the psyche. Talk therapy together with medication can provide relief. Follow-up care thus plays only a minor role. Either the characteristic limp disappears or it remains in a specific form. In the latter case, the aim is to prevent complications and to enable the patient to lead as normal a daily life as possible. In the case of severe deformities, affected persons can resort to aids such as rollators. They consult a doctor in the event of acute difficulties. An orthopedist is consulted regularly to analyze the individual problem.
What you can do yourself
Limping can be due to highly diverse triggers and can be both physical and psychological in nature. Most often, however, a disorder of the musculoskeletal system or the nerves is responsible for the unsteady gait. For this reason, a limp should always be presented to a doctor. Whether and what self-help measures the patient can take depend on the cause of the disorder. If the limp is due to a congenital physical disability that cannot be treated or cannot be treated completely, walking aids often facilitate mobility in everyday life. If the limp is very severe, the temporary use of a wheelchair may also be helpful. In any case, affected persons should ask their doctor, medical retailers and their health insurer what technical aids are available to make everyday life easier for them. If the limp results from an accident or other injury, patients can usually use physiotherapy exercises to help rehabilitate the affected muscles and joints. In this way, late effects and a permanent restriction of mobility can usually be avoided. For simple disorders, such as a simple ankle sprain, blisters on the feet or swollen and painful ankles after an insect bite, home remedies can also provide relief. For swelling, compresses with acetic clay from the pharmacy help. Blisters on the heels heal faster if they are washed out with white wine, then creamed with zinc ointment and covered with a plaster.
